1943 VFL season
The 1943 Victorian Football League season was the 47th season of the elite Australian rules football competition.
| 1943 VFL Premiership season | |
|---|---|
 Richmond FC, premier team | |
| Teams | 11 |
| Premiers | Richmond (5th premiership) |
| Minor premiers | Richmond (4th minor premiership) |
| Matches played | 84 |
| Highest attendance | 42,100 |
| Leading Goalkicker Medallist | Fred Fanning (Melbourne) |
| Brownlow Medallist | Not awarded |
Influence of World War II
- Geelong were still unable to field a team due to the war, so the bye was retained.
New System
A new system was introduced so that each team received only one bye.
There were still 16 rounds. The first 11 had every team competing - after round 11, the bottom placed team would drop out, and a new byeless draw would be made.
Premiership season
In 1942, the VFL competition consisted of eleven teams of 18 on-the-field players each (Geelong did not field a team due to wartime rail and road transport restrictions), plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man. A player could be substituted for any reason; however, once substituted, a player could not return to the field of play under any circumstances.
Teams played each other in a home-and-away season of 16 rounds. During the first 11 rounds each team played each other once and had one bye. At round 11, the eleventh team on the ladder dropped out of the competition. In the remaining rounds (12 to 16), the other ten teams played 5 matches each.
During the 1943 season, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, the Lake Oval, and the Junction Oval were all appropriated for military use. Melbourne shared the Punt Road Oval with Richmond as their home ground, South Melbourne now shared Princes Park with Carlton as their home ground, and St. Kilda now played their home games at Toorak Park (this was possible because there was no VFA competition in 1943). Footscray, however, were able to return to the Western Oval as it was vacated by the defence authorities after a year.
Once the 16 round home-and-away season had finished, the 1943 VFL Premiers were determined by the specific format and conventions of the Page-McIntyre System.
Round 1
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 18.9 (117) | South Melbourne | 13.14 (92) | Windy Hill | 16,000 | 8 May 1943 |
| Collingwood | 6.22 (58) | North Melbourne | 7.12 (54) | Victoria Park | 8,000 | 8 May 1943 |
| Carlton | 17.13 (115) | Richmond | 8.23 (71) | Princes Park | 17,000 | 8 May 1943 |
| St Kilda | 14.9 (93) | Hawthorn | 13.17 (95) | Toorak Park | 6,000 | 8 May 1943 |
| Melbourne | 14.12 (96) | Fitzroy | 15.9 (99) | Punt Road Oval | 9,000 | 8 May 1943 |
Round 2
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 8.14 (62) | St Kilda | 8.14 (62) | Arden Street Oval | 5,000 | 15 May 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Melbourne | 15.19 (109) | Princes Park | 6,000 | 15 May 1943 |
| Hawthorn | 7.8 (50) | Essendon | 11.15 (81) | Glenferrie Oval | 7,000 | 15 May 1943 |
| Richmond | 13.7 (85) | Collingwood | 9.12 (66) | Punt Road Oval | 16,000 | 15 May 1943 |
| Footscray | 6.10 (46) | Carlton | 8.18 (66) | Western Oval | 11,000 | 15 May 1943 |
Round 3
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 16.17 (113) | South Melbourne | 16.16 (112) | Brunswick Street Oval | 15,500 | 22 May 1943 |
| Essendon | 11.12 (78) | North Melbourne | 9.11 (65) | Windy Hill | 9,000 | 22 May 1943 |
| Collingwood | 11.14 (80) | Footscray | 12.16 (88) | Victoria Park | 10,000 | 22 May 1943 |
| St Kilda | 8.15 (63) | Richmond | 17.12 (114) | Toorak Park | 11,000 | 22 May 1943 |
| Melbourne | 10.12 (72) | Hawthorn | 17.15 (117) | Punt Road Oval | 5,000 | 22 May 1943 |
Round 4
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 13.11 (89) | St Kilda | 6.12 (48) | Western Oval | 7,000 | 29 May 1943 |
| Carlton | 12.5 (77) | Collingwood | 15.14 (104) | Princes Park | 15,000 | 29 May 1943 |
| North Melbourne | 15.14 (104) | Melbourne | 10.11 (71) | Arden Street Oval | 5,000 | 29 May 1943 |
| Hawthorn | 13.8 (86) | Fitzroy | 9.21 (75) | Glenferrie Oval | 9,000 | 29 May 1943 |
| Richmond | 11.18 (84) | Essendon | 14.13 (97) | Punt Road Oval | 23,000 | 29 May 1943 |
Round 5
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 17.11 (113) | Richmond | 21.15 (141) | Punt Road Oval | 13,000 | 5 June 1943 |
| Fitzroy | 23.12 (150) | North Melbourne | 10.13 (73) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,000 | 5 June 1943 |
| Essendon | 16.10 (106) | Footscray | 16.18 (114) | Windy Hill | 18,000 | 5 June 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 10.15 (75) | Hawthorn | 12.13 (85) | Princes Park | 14,000 | 5 June 1943 |
| St Kilda | 13.14 (92) | Carlton | 12.8 (80) | Toorak Park | 9,000 | 5 June 1943 |
Round 6
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 14.7 (91) | South Melbourne | 12.18 (90) | Arden Street Oval | 7,000 | 12 June 1943 |
| Footscray | 21.17 (143) | Melbourne | 8.15 (63) | Western Oval | 8,000 | 12 June 1943 |
| Collingwood | 11.21 (87) | St Kilda | 5.12 (42) | Victoria Park | 7,000 | 12 June 1943 |
| Carlton | 9.22 (76) | Essendon | 11.16 (82) | Princes Park | 17,000 | 12 June 1943 |
| Richmond | 12.17 (89) | Fitzroy | 14.11 (95) | Punt Road Oval | 19,000 | 12 June 1943 |
Round 7
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 20.16 (136) | North Melbourne | 13.17 (95) | Glenferrie Oval | 8,000 | 19 June 1943 |
| Fitzroy | 16.11 (107) | Footscray | 11.7 (73) | Brunswick Street Oval | 18,000 | 19 June 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 12.12 (84) | Richmond | 17.12 (114) | Princes Park | 11,000 | 19 June 1943 |
| Essendon | 15.13 (103) | Collingwood | 8.14 (62) | Windy Hill | 11,000 | 19 June 1943 |
| Melbourne | 13.14 (92) | Carlton | 11.21 (87) | Punt Road Oval | 8,000 | 19 June 1943 |
Round 8
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 10.11 (71) | South Melbourne | 6.14 (50) | Western Oval | 7,500 | 26 June 1943 |
| Collingwood | 10.21 (81) | Melbourne | 13.9 (87) | Victoria Park | 5,000 | 26 June 1943 |
| Carlton | 15.16 (106) | Fitzroy | 9.13 (67) | Princes Park | 12,000 | 26 June 1943 |
| Richmond | 15.16 (106) | Hawthorn | 8.14 (62) | Punt Road Oval | 16,000 | 26 June 1943 |
| St Kilda | 15.8 (98) | Essendon | 20.19 (139) | Toorak Park | 6,000 | 26 June 1943 |
Round 9
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| North Melbourne | 9.2 (56) | Richmond | 13.7 (85) | Arden Street Oval | 10,000 | 3 July 1943 |
| Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | St Kilda | 12.10 (82) | Punt Road Oval | 8,000 | 3 July 1943 |
| Hawthorn | 13.11 (89) | Footscray | 11.13 (79) | Glenferrie Oval | 16,000 | 3 July 1943 |
| Fitzroy | 15.18 (108) | Collingwood | 9.11 (65) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14,000 | 3 July 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 10.13 (73) | Carlton | 15.13 (103) | Princes Park | 13,000 | 3 July 1943 |
Round 10
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Footscray | 9.23 (77) | North Melbourne | 12.14 (86) | Western Oval | 8,000 | 10 July 1943 |
| Essendon | 9.16 (70) | Melbourne | 13.7 (85) | Windy Hill | 8,000 | 10 July 1943 |
| Collingwood | 9.6 (60) | South Melbourne | 16.14 (110) | Victoria Park | 8,000 | 10 July 1943 |
| Carlton | 16.9 (105) | Hawthorn | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 12,000 | 10 July 1943 |
| St Kilda | 10.11 (71) | Fitzroy | 14.14 (98) | Toorak Park | 6,000 | 10 July 1943 |
Round 11
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| South Melbourne | 16.19 (115) | St Kilda | 11.14 (80) | Princes Park | 6,000 | 17 July 1943 |
| Richmond | 10.19 (79) | Footscray | 8.9 (57) | Punt Road Oval | 13,000 | 17 July 1943 |
| Fitzroy | 7.14 (56) | Essendon | 9.24 (78) | Brunswick Street Oval | 14,000 | 17 July 1943 |
| Hawthorn | 16.14 (110) | Collingwood | 12.13 (85) | Glenferrie Oval | 8,000 | 17 July 1943 |
| North Melbourne | 12.10 (82) | Carlton | 11.12 (78) | Arden Street Oval | 7,000 | 17 July 1943 |
Round 12
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 10.10 (70) | Richmond | 7.17 (59) | Brunswick Street Oval | 12,000 | 31 July 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 14.11 (95) | North Melbourne | 6.6 (42) | Princes Park | 8,000 | 31 July 1943 |
| Melbourne | 23.16 (154) | Footscray | 11.8 (74) | Punt Road Oval | 8,000 | 31 July 1943 |
| Hawthorn | 7.13 (55) | Essendon | 9.12 (66) | Glenferrie Oval | 12,000 | 31 July 1943 |
| Collingwood | 11.8 (74) | Carlton | 28.10 (178) | Victoria Park | 8,500 | 31 July 1943 |
Round 13
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Melbourne | 9.6 (60) | South Melbourne | 21.13 (139) | Punt Road Oval | 14,000 | 7 August 1943 |
| Footscray | 7.17 (59) | Richmond | 19.19 (133) | Western Oval | 9,000 | 7 August 1943 |
| Essendon | 11.24 (90) | Fitzroy | 8.8 (56) | Windy Hill | 14,000 | 7 August 1943 |
| Collingwood | 14.24 (108) | North Melbourne | 7.8 (50) | Victoria Park | 5,250 | 7 August 1943 |
| Carlton | 13.19 (97) | Hawthorn | 10.15 (75) | Princes Park | 15,000 | 7 August 1943 |
Round 14
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Fitzroy | 15.14 (104) | Melbourne | 7.12 (54) | Brunswick Street Oval | 8,000 | 14 August 1943 |
| Richmond | 9.14 (68) | Hawthorn | 11.7 (73) | Punt Road Oval | 15,000 | 14 August 1943 |
| North Melbourne | 7.11 (53) | Footscray | 9.10 (64) | Arden Street Oval | 4,000 | 14 August 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 12.18 (90) | Collingwood | 11.7 (73) | Princes Park | 6,000 | 14 August 1943 |
| Essendon | 9.13 (67) | Carlton | 10.10 (70) | Windy Hill | 19,000 | 14 August 1943 |
Round 15
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Hawthorn | 13.10 (88) | South Melbourne | 7.14 (56) | Glenferrie Oval | 15,000 | 21 August 1943 |
| Collingwood | 16.17 (113) | Fitzroy | 9.9 (63) | Victoria Park | 6,500 | 21 August 1943 |
| Carlton | 15.23 (113) | North Melbourne | 7.5 (47) | Princes Park | 8,000 | 21 August 1943 |
| Richmond | 15.19 (109) | Melbourne | 12.13 (85) | Punt Road Oval | 9,000 | 21 August 1943 |
| Footscray | 9.10 (64) | Essendon | 6.15 (51) | Western Oval | 6,000 | 21 August 1943 |
Round 16
| Home team | Home team score | Away team | Away team score | Venue | Crowd | Date |
| Essendon | 10.11 (71) | Richmond | 14.14 (98) | Windy Hill | 16,000 | 28 August 1943 |
| North Melbourne | 8.11 (59) | Hawthorn | 7.16 (58) | Arden Street Oval | 4,500 | 28 August 1943 |
| South Melbourne | 10.19 (79) | Footscray | 10.6 (66) | Princes Park | 4,000 | 28 August 1943 |
| Melbourne | 16.17 (113) | Collingwood | 14.17 (101) | Punt Road Oval | 5,000 | 28 August 1943 |
| Fitzroy | 12.12 (84) | Carlton | 10.9 (69) | Brunswick Street Oval | 18,000 | 28 August 1943 |
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | D | PF | PA | PP | Pts | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Richmond (P) | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1435 | 1166 | 123.1 | 44 | Finals |
| 2 | Essendon | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1296 | 1125 | 115.2 | 44 | |
| 3 | Fitzroy | 15 | 10 | 5 | 0 | 1345 | 1234 | 109.0 | 44 | |
| 4 | Carlton | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1420 | 1136 | 125.0 | 40 | |
| 5 | Hawthorn | 15 | 9 | 6 | 0 | 1259 | 1212 | 103.9 | 40 | |
| 6 | Footscray | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1164 | 1244 | 93.6 | 32 | |
| 7 | Melbourne | 15 | 7 | 8 | 0 | 1364 | 1537 | 88.7 | 32 | |
| 8 | South Melbourne | 15 | 6 | 9 | 0 | 1346 | 1272 | 105.8 | 28 | |
| 9 | North Melbourne | 15 | 5 | 9 | 1 | 1019 | 1323 | 77.0 | 26 | |
| 10 | Collingwood | 15 | 5 | 10 | 0 | 1217 | 1358 | 89.6 | 24 | |
| 11 | St Kilda | 10 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 731 | 989 | 73.9 | 10 |
Source: VFL ladder
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) percentage; 3) number of points for.
(P) Premiers.
Finals
Grand final
Richmond defeated Essendon 12.14 (86) to 11.15 (81), in front of a crowd of 42,100 (approx.) people. (For an explanation of scoring see Australian rules football).
Awards
- The 1943 VFL Premiership team was Richmond.
- The VFL's leading goalkicker was Fred Fanning of Melbourne with 62 goals.
- No Brownlow Medal was awarded in 1943.
- St Kilda took the "wooden spoon" in 1943.
- The seconds premiership was won by St Kilda for the second consecutive season. St Kilda 11.14 (80) defeated Fitzroy 8.6 (54) in the Grand Final, played as a stand-alone match on 18 September at Victoria Park.[1][2]
Notable events
- Hawthorn's coach Roy Cazaly renames the club "The Hawks" from "The Mayblooms".
- In the spiteful round 1 match between Essendon and South Melbourne, a vicious brawl broke out in the last quarter when South Melbourne's Jack "Basher" Williams felled Ted Leehane (apparently in a square-off retribution for Leehane's similar action against Williams in the 1942 Preliminary Final) which involved a dozen players, team officials, trainers, fans, and police. Three players were reported: Williams received an eight-week suspension for striking Leehane, Dick Reynolds, Gordon Lane, and Perc Bushby, 1940 Brownlow Medal winner Herbie Matthews was suspended for four weeks for striking Allan Hird, and Bushby was suspended for two weeks for striking Williams in retaliation.
- Entering Round 11, St Kilda and South Melbourne were tenth and eleventh on the ladder with two premiership points separating them; so, the match between those two clubs in Round 11 directly decided which club was eliminated after the first set of home-and-away matches. South Melbourne won the game by 35 points.[3]
- The VFL suspended its round 12 matches and conducted a one-day lightning carnival amongst the top four teams; the Victorian Football League Patriotic Match Cup was won by Essendon.
- In round 5, Denis Cordner makes his debut for Melbourne in a team that also contains his brothers Don and Ted.
- Munitions worker Bob Chitty plays for Carlton in round 15 despite losing the top of his finger during the week in a workplace accident.
- Richmond's centre half-forward Jack Broadstock went Absent Without Leave (AWL) from his Army duties in order to play in the 1943 Grand Final. He was arrested by the Military Police upon his arrival at Princes Park, and it was only after some very persuasive talking by Richmond captain Jack Dyer, who was himself a policeman with the Victorian Police Force, that Broadstock's commanding officer dropped the matter and allowed him to play in the match. Broadstock went on to kick a goal and be one of Richmond's best players.
- For the first time, no score of four or fewer goals was kicked in a VFL season. The only seasons since without a goal tally of four or fewer have been 1969, 1973, 1982, 1983, 2005 and 2008.
gollark: I dislike death lots and I'd like to live much longer than my ridiculous """natural lifespan""".
gollark: That sort of thing might run into inaccuracy with advancing technology, but probably in an underestimatey way.
gollark: No, that's roughly average life expectancy over here.
gollark: I have no idea who that is.
gollark: As opposed to passively awful for me like mostly not doing exercise.
References
- "Two pennants to St Kilda". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 20 September 1943. p. 9.
- "Seconds Grand Final". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 17 September 1943. p. 9.
- Rodgers, Stephen (1992), Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results, 1897–1991 (3rd ed.), Ringwood, VIC: Viking O'Neil, p. 304
- Hogan, P., The Tigers Of Old, The Richmond Football Club, (Richmond), 1996. ISBN 0-646-18748-1
- Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872-1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
- Rogers, S. & Brown, A., Every Game Ever Played: VFL/AFL Results 1897-1997 (Sixth Edition), Viking Books, (Ringwood), 1998. ISBN 0-670-90809-6
- Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897-1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
External links
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